Color barcode producing, reading and/or reproducing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A color barcode can record much more amount of information than black white barcode. However, the problem of the color barcode is that it is easy to lose integrity or authenticity in printing and copy generation. This invention provides an apparatus and a method to keep the integrity or authenticity of the color barcode. Such is accomplished by the color information portion of the color barcode representing the color information about what colors are used for color tiles of data portion of the color barcode and an apparatus and a method for producing and reproducing such color barcode.

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/876,608,filed Jun. 28, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a color barcode producing method andapparatus, a color barcode reading method and apparatus and a colorbarcode reproducing method and apparatus.

A black and white barcode is very widely used for recording digitalinformation which is readable by an apparatus in a small space on aprinted matter. However, such black and white barcode has some problems.One of the problems is that it is difficult to record informationincluding large data such as a long document or a picture.

Recently, to solve such problem, a color barcode using several colors isdeveloped. The color barcode can record much more information than theblack and white barcode because while the black and white barcoderecords information by binary recording, the color barcode using severalcolors can record information by multivalued recording.

However, even if user uses the color barcode, there are some problemsyet. The problem is that the color barcode is easy to loss its integrityand authenticity in printing and copy generation due to i) differentcolor management system of different apparatus, ii) different printer,iii) unstable color characteristic of printer itself, iv) scannerprecision, v) degradation of color on a printed matter with time and vi)degradation in copy generation, and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a background stated above, an object of the invention is to providea method or an apparatus which is able to maintain integrity andauthenticity of the color barcode in printing and copy generation.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, a method for producing a color barcode comprises acolor information encrypting step which encrypts a color informationwhich describes what color is used for color tiles of the color barcode,a color information portion producing step which produces a colorinformation portion which is a part of the color barcode and representsthe color information according to the result of the encrypting step ofthe color information, a data encrypting step which encrypts data, adata portion producing step which produces a data portion which is apart of the color barcode, includes the several color tiles in whichcolors represented by the color information are assigned and representsa data, according to the color information and the result of theencrypting step of the data, and a printing step which prints the colorbarcode including the color information portion and the data portionaccording to the results of the two producing steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a color barcode as one of embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a color barcode producing apparatus as oneof embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a color barcode reproducing apparatus asone of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a color barcode reading apparatus as one ofembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following, the detailed description and some of the embodimentsof this invention will be explained, referring to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a color barcode 1 comprises a color informationportion 2 and a data portion 3 including several color tiles 31.

A color information portion 2 is a part of the color barcode 1 andrepresents a color information. The color information includesinformation about what kind color is used for color tiles 31 of the dataportion 3 of the color barcode 1. As the color information, a digitalinformation may be used. Further, as the color information, a definedcolor value may be used. As the defined color value, Pantone™ color, LABvalue (La*b* value or Lab value), HSV and so on may be used. In otherwords, the color information may include information about what Pantone™color, LAB value or HSV is used for the color tiles 31. Other definedcolor value may be included in the color information. It is preferablythat Pantone™ color is included in the color information, becausedifference of color printed in documents by various printers is smallwhen Pantone™ color is used. Pantone™ color is color of definitiondefined by Pantone, Inc as of June, 2004. For example, the colorinformation portion 2 may record information that red (Pantone™ 485 C),orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™ 285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C),yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) and pink (Pantone™ 672 C) are used for the colortiles 31. Further, among many Pantone™ colors, the Pantone™ colors whichcan be recognized by many printers and color copying machines may beused for the color barcode.

The color information portion 2 may be a header of the color barcode 1preferably. Or, the color information portion 2 may be a footer or otherpart of the color barcode 1.

The color information portion 2 may be black and white, grayscale orother color. To prevent to lose integrity and authenticity, black andwhite or grayscale may be used for the color information portion 2. Toprevent the color barcode 1 from outstanding in the color document,colored color information portion may be used.

In the case that colored color information portion is used, the colorinformation portion 2 may represent a color information of the colorinformation portion 2 itself as well as the color information of thecolor tiles 31 of the data portion 3. The color information of the colorinformation portion includes information about what color (such asPantone™ color, LAB value and so on) is used for the color informationportion.

The color information portion 2 may be one-dimensional barcode ortwo-dimensional barcode. If data amount of the color information is notso large, the color information portion 2 may be one-dimensionalbarcode.

The color information portion 2 is produced based on a result of anencryption of the color information. Detailed explanation is describedlater.

The data portion 3 is a part of the color barcode 1, includes theseveral color tiles 31 and represents a data. Several color tiles 31include several colors other than black, white and gray. If Pantone™color, LAB value, LAB value or HSV is different, the color is different.The colors (such as Pantone™ colors, LAB colors and so on) representedby the color information portion 2 are assigned to the color tiles 31.Although the colors assigned to the color tiles 31 include colors otherthan black, white and gray, the colors assigned to the color tiles 31also may include black, white or gray. The shape of the color tile isnot limited and may be square, circle, line and so on. All of the shapeof the color tile may be the same. Or, color tiles of different shapemay be included in one data portion. For example, the data portion 3records information about contents of a certain document or contents ofa certain picture. Because the data portion 3 uses several colored tiles31 for recording information, the data portion 3 records information bymultivalued recording, not by binary recording, and can record largevolume data in small space. Any number of colors may be assigned to thecolor tiles. Number of colors used as the color tiles may be multiplierof two. Also, number of colors used as the color tiles may less than100.

The data portion 3 may be two-dimensional barcode using several colortiles 31. QR Code™, PDF417, Data Matrix™, Maxi Code and so on can beused as two-dimensional barcode.

The data portion 3 is produced based on a result of an encryption of thedata. For example, the content of document or picture to be affixed bythe color barcode is encrypted as data. In the case, if someone amendsthe document or picture, the fact that the document of picture wasamended can be detected by comparing the encrypted data in the dataportion of the color barcode and the amended content of document orpicture.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color information portion may be located nearthe data portion. That is, the distance between the color informationportion and the data portion may be same as or less than 1 cm.Alternatively, the distance between the color information portion andthe data portion may be more than 1 cm. Further, in the case that numberof pages of one document is not less than two, the color informationportion may be located on the page which is different page on which thedata portion is located. The color information portion may be located ononly one page of the document and the data portion may be located on theseveral pages of the document.

The data portion or other portion of the color barcode located near (1cm or less) the data portion may include information about where thecolor information portion is. On the contrary, the color informationportion may include information about where the data portion is.

To read the data of data portion 3, the color barcode 1 on the documentis scanned by a color barcode reader including decryption program, thedata of the data portion 3 is decrypted and the data recorded in thedata portion 3 can be obtained.

Example 1

Next, one example of an apparatus for producing the color barcode willbe explained as follows. Incidentally, in all of following examples,information about what kind of Pantone™ color is used for the colortiles is included in the color information.

A color barcode producing apparatus comprises a color informationportion producing device, a data portion producing device and a printingdevice.

As such color barcode producing apparatus, a color printer, such as alaser beam color printer, a thermal color printer such as a sublimationcolor printer or an ink jet color printer, or a color multi functionprinter including copying function may be used. In such embodiments, allof the color information portion producing device, a data portionproducing device and a printing device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode producing apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer and a color printer whichare apart and are connected with each other, may be used. The colorprinter may be a laser beam color printer, a thermal color printer suchas a sublimation color printer or an ink jet color printer, or a colormulti function printer including copying function.

Next, each element of the color barcode producing apparatus is explainedas follows.

The color information portion producing device of the color barcodeproducing apparatus encrypts the color information for the color barcodeand produces the color information portion of the color barcodeaccording to the result of the encryption of the color information. Asthe color information portion producing device, in the case that thecolor barcode producing apparatus is a color printer or a color copyingmachine, an IC (integrated circuit) or a CPU (central processing unit)may be comprised, if necessary in combination with a software. As thecolor information portion producing device, in the case that the colorbarcode producing apparatus is a system including a computer and a colorprinter or a color copying machine apart, an IC or a CPU of the computermay be comprised, if necessary in combination with a software.

The data portion producing device of the color barcode producingapparatus encrypts data which will be recorded into the color barcodeand produces the data portion according to the color information and theresult of the encryption of the data. As the data portion producingdevice, in the case that the color barcode producing apparatus is acolor printer or a color copying machine, an IC or a CPU of the colorprinter or the color copying machine may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software. As the data portion producing device, inthe case that the color barcode producing apparatus is a systemincluding a computer and a color printer apart, an IC or a CPU of thecomputer may be comprised, if necessary in combination with a software.

The printing device of the color barcode producing apparatus prints thecolor barcode including the color information portion and the dataportion according to the results of the producing step of the colorinformation portion producing device and the producing step of the dataportion producing device. As the printing device, in the case that thecolor barcode producing apparatus is a color printer or a color copyingmachine, a printing portion of the color printer may be comprised. Asthe printing device, in the case that the color barcode producingapparatus is a system including a computer and a color printer apart,the color printer may be comprised.

Using the color barcode producing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is produced as follows.

A method for producing a color barcode comprises a color informationencrypting step which encrypts the color information, a colorinformation portion producing step which produces a color informationportion according to the result of the encrypting step of the colorinformation, an data encrypting step which encrypts data, a data portionproducing step which produces a data portion according to the colorinformation and the result of the encrypting step of the data, and aprinting step which prints the color barcode including the colorinformation portion and the data portion according to the results of thecolor information portion producing step and the data portion producingstep. In the case that the color information portion of the colorbarcode is not fixed and alters at every produce of the color barcode,the above method may be applied.

In the following, the detailed description of one of embodiments of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a color printer 4 is shown as the color barcode producingapparatus for the above method. In this embodiment, a computer 8 isconnected with the color printer 4. The computer 8 is connected with aflat bed image scanner 9.

At first, a document or a picture including information which is to berecorded in the data portion of the color barcode is scanned by the flatbed image scanner 9 and is changed into a digital data which is a baseof the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1. Alternatively, to get adigital data which is a base of the data portion 3, some digital data,such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard disk or a digitaldata sent via a network, may be read by the computer 8.

Next, colors to be assigned to the color tiles 31 of the data portion 3is decided. To decide the colors, a document on which the color barcodeis affixed is scanned by the flat bed image scanner 9 or read by thecomputer 8. And the data of the document, which may be the digital databeing a base of the data portion, is analyzed by the computer 8 or theCPU 5 of the color printer 4. Then, the shade or tone of colors of thedata of the document is decided by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of thecolor printer 4, and the colors to be assigned to the color tiles 31 aredecided by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of the color printer 4 so as thatthe colors to be assigned to the color tiles 31 are harmonious with thecolors of the document affixing the color barcode. The colors to beassigned to the color tiles 31 are decided as the Pantone™ colors. EachPantone™ color to be selected may be stored in the computer 8 or amemory 7 of the color printer 4.

Alternatively, the number of colors to be assigned to the color tilesmay be decided according to the volume of data to be recorded in thedata portion. That is, if the volume of data is large, the number ofcolors assigned to color tiles is many. On the contrary, if the volumeof data is small, the number of colors may be few.

In contrast, the number of colors to be assigned to the color tiles maybe always fixed.

Instead of the above, the colors to be assigned to the color tiles maybe decided at random regardless of the document.

By deciding the colors assigned to the color tiles 31, the colorinformation is decided. That is to say, what Pantone™ colors are usedfor color tiles 31 of the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 isdecided. In this example, six colors, red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange(Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™ 285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow(Pantone™ 102 C) and pink (Pantone™ 672 C), are assigned to the colortiles 31.

In addition to the above, a color information of the color informationportion itself is decided. That is to say¥, what Pantone™ color is usedfor the color information portion 2 is decided. The color of the colorinformation portion 2 may be decided by the computer 8 or the CPU so asthat the color of the color information portion is harmonized with thecolor of the data portion and/or the color of the document affixing thecolor barcode.

Next, the color information of the data portion and the colorinformation portion is encrypted by the CPU 5 as the color informationportion producing device. To encrypt, DES or RC4 etc. encryption methodmay be used.

Then, the color information portion 2 of the color barcode 1 is producedby the CPU 5 as the color information portion producing device accordingto the result of the encryption of the color information. In thisembodiment, the color information portion 2 is a black and whiteone-dimension barcode. To produce the color information portion, asoftware for producing a barcode can be used. In the case that coloredcolor information portion is produced, after producing the colorinformation portion as a grayscale or black and white barcode by using acommercial software for producing a barcode, only color of the barcodecan be exchanged from grayscale or black and white to other color inorder to produce the colored color information portion.

Also, the digital data which is a base of the data portion 3 isencrypted by the CPU 5 as the data portion producing device. To encrypt,DES or RC4 etc. encryption method may be used.

Then, the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 is produced by the CPU 5as the data portion producing device according to the color informationdecided above and the result of the encryption of the data. The dataportion 3 is a second-dimensional color barcode comprising six kind ofcolors (red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) and pink(Pantone™ 672 C)) of color tiles 31 which are assigned by the Pantone™color represented by the color information portion 2. To produce thedata portion, a software for producing barcode may be used. The colorinformation portion and the data portion may be produced separately bysame or different commercial software and be combined later to producethe color barcode comprising the data portion and the color informationportion.

The data encrypting step and data portion producing step may be donebefore, after or at the same time with the color information encryptingstep and the color information portion producing step.

By producing the color information portion and the data portion, thecolor information portion and the data portion are combined and thecolor barcode is produced.

After that, the color barcode 1 including the color information portion2 and the data portion 3 is printed on the paper by a printing portion 6of the color printer 4 according to the result of the color informationportion producing step and the result of the data portion producingstep. That is to say, the color barcode 1 is printed so as that thecolor of the data portion and the color information portion is thePantone™ color represented by the color information portion 2. By doingsuch, the color barcode as shown in FIG. 1 is produced on the paper.

The color barcode may be affixed not only to the paper, but also to thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Although the color barcode producing apparatus of this example does notcomprise a flat bed image scanner, the color barcode producing apparatusmay comprise a scanning device. The scanning device scans the documentor picture to be affixed with the color barcode. And the data portionproducing device produces the data portion based on the data scanned bythe scanning device.

Example 2

Next, the other example of an apparatus for producing the color barcodewill be explained as follows.

A color barcode producing apparatus comprises a color informationportion storing device, a data portion producing device and a printingdevice.

As the color barcode producing apparatus, a color printer, such as alaser beam color printer, a thermal color printer such as a sublimationcolor printer or an ink jet color printer, or a color multi functionprinter including copying function may be used. In such embodiments, allof the color information portion producing device, a data portionproducing device and a printing device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as the color barcode producing apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer and a color printer whichare apart and are connected with each other, may be used. The colorprinter may be a laser beam color printer, a thermal color printer suchas a sublimation color printer or an ink jet color printer, or a colormulti function printer including copying function.

Next, each element of the color barcode producing device is explained asfollows. The color information portion storing device of the colorbarcode producing apparatus stores a color information portion data ofthe color information portion in advance. As the color informationportion storing device, in the case that the color barcode producingapparatus is a color printer, a memory of the color printer may becomprised. As the color information portion producing device, in thecase that the color barcode producing apparatus is a system including acomputer and a color printer apart, a memory of the computer or thecolor printer, a hard disk of the computer, or a external and/or aremovable information storing device, such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM andthe reproducing device for them of the computer or the color printer maybe comprised.

The color information portion data stored in the color informationportion storing device includes color information about what Pantone™colors are used for color tiles of the data portion.

The color information portion storing device may store only onecombination pattern of colors which are assigned to the color tiles ofthe data portion as the one color information portion data. On the otherhand, the color information portion storing device may store severalcombination patterns of colors which are assigned to the color tiles ofthe data portion as the several color information portion data.

In the case that the color information portion storing device storesseveral color information portion data, an user may be able to choosethe color used for the barcode by selecting color information portiondata, or the color information portion may be decided automaticallyaccording to the result of an analysis of a color tone or shade of adocument affixing the color barcode so that the color of the dataportion harmonizes with the color of the document.

Therefore, the color barcode producing apparatus may comprise a colorinformation selecting device in order to choose the color informationportion data among the several color information portion data stored inthe color information portion storing device, such as a input button ofthe color printer or a keyboard of the computer.

Also, the color barcode producing apparatus may comprise a colorinformation deciding device in order to automatically decide the colorinformation portion data among the several color information portiondata stored in the color information portion storing device according tothe result of an analysis of a color tone or shade of a documentaffixing the color barcode, such as an IC or a CPU of the color printeror the computer, if necessary in combination with a software.

Regarding the data portion producing device, it is similar to that ofthe Example 1 except that the data portion producing device produces thedata portion according to the color information portion data stored inthe color information portion storing device.

Regarding the printing device, it is similar to that of the Example 1except that the printing device prints the color barcode according tothe color information portion data stored in the color informationportion storing device.

Using the color barcode producing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is produced as follows.

A method for producing a color barcode comprises an data encrypting stepwhich encrypts data, a data portion producing step which produces a dataportion according to the color information stored in advance and theresult of the encrypting step of the data, and a printing step whichprints the color barcode including the color information portion and thedata portion according to the color information stored in advance andthe results of the producing step of the data portion. In the case thatthe color information portion of the color barcode is fixed or selectedamong only a few choices, the above method may be used.

In the following, the detailed description of one of embodiments of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a color printer 4 is shown as the color barcode producingapparatus for the above method. In this embodiment, a computer 8 isconnected with the color printer 4. The computer 8 is connecter with aflat bed image scanner 9.

At first, a document or a picture including information which is to berecorded in the data portion of the color barcode is scanned by the flatbed image scanner 9 and is changed into a digital data which is a baseof the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1. Alternatively, to get adata which is a base of the data portion 3, some digital data, such as adata recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard disk or a digital data sentvia a network, may be reproduced by the computer 4.

Next, in the case that a memory 7 as the color information portionstoring device stores several color information portion data, colors tobe assigned to the color tiles 31 of the data portion 3 is decided amongthe several color information portion data. To select the colorinformation portion data, the document on which the barcode is affixedis scanned by the flat bed image scanner 9 or read by the computer 8.And the data of the document, which may be the digital data being a baseof the data portion, is analyzed by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of thecolor printer 4. Then, the shade or tone of colors of the data of thedocument is decided by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of the color printer4, and one of the color information portion data representing acombination pattern of colors to be assigned to the color tiles isselected among the several color information portion data stored in thememory 7 by the CPU 5 as the color information deciding device so asthat the colors to be assigned to the color tiles 31 are harmonious withthe colors of the document affixing the color barcode.

Or, as the other way, user can choose the color combination pattern asthe color information portion data among several color informationportion data by an input button (not disclosed in FIG. 2) of the colorprinter 4 as the color information selecting device.

By deciding the color information portion data, the color information isdecided. That is to say, what Pantone™ colors are used for color tiles31 of the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 is decided. In thisexample, red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) and pink(Pantone™ 672 C) are assigned to the color tiles 31.

In addition to the above, because a color information of a colorinformation portion itself is included in the color information portiondata, a color information of the color information portion itself isdecided. That is to say, what Pantone™ color is used for the colorinformation portion 2 is decided.

In the case that the memory 7 as the color information portion storingdevice stores only one color combination pattern as the colorinformation portion data including the color information of the dataportion and the color information portion itself, the process describedin the previous four paragraphs are omitted.

In this embodiment, the color information portion 2 is a black and whiteone-dimension barcode.

Also, the digital data which is a base of the data portion 3 isencrypted by the CPU 5 as the data portion producing device. To encrypt,DES or RC4 etc. encryption method may be used.

Then, the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 is produced by the CPU 5as the data portion producing device according to the color informationstored in the memory 7 and the result of the encryption of the data. Thedata portion 3 is a second-dimensional color barcode comprising six kindof colors (red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone285™ C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) and pink(Pantone™ 672 C)) of color tiles 31 which are assigned by the Pantone™colors represented by the color information portion 2.

By deciding or reproducing the color information portion and producingthe data portion and combining the color information portion and thedata portion, the color barcode is decided.

After that, the color barcode 1 including the color information portion2 and the data portion 3 is printed on the paper by a printing portion 6of the color printer 4 according to the color information portion storedin the memory 7 and the result of the data portion producing step.Namely, the color barcode 1 is printed so as that the color of the dataportion and the color information portion is the Pantone™ colorrepresented by the color information portion 2. By doing such, the colorbarcode as shown in FIG. 1 is produced on the paper.

The color barcode may be affixed to not only to the paper, but also thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Example 3

In the examples 1 and 2, the examples of the apparatus and method ofproducing the color barcode are explained. In the following, the exampleof an apparatus and a method for reproducing the color barcode will beexplained.

A color barcode reproducing apparatus comprises a scanning device, aretrieving device, a relating device and a printing device.

As such color barcode reproducing apparatus, a color copying machine ora color multi function printer including copying function may be used.In such embodiment, all of the scanning device, the retrieving device,the relating device and the printing device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode reproducing apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer, an image scanner and acolor printer which are apart and are connected with each other, may beused. The color printer may be a laser beam color printer, a thermalcolor printer such as a sublimation color printer or an ink jet colorprinter, or a color multi function printer including copying function.

Next, each element of the color barcode reproducing apparatus isexplained as follows.

The scanning device scans the color information portion of the colorbarcode and the data portion of the color barcode. As the scanningdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer includingcopying function, a scanning portion of the color copying machine or themulti function color printer may be comprised. As the scanning device,in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is a systemincluding a computer, an image scanner and a color printer apart, animage scanner such as a flat bed scanner may be comprised.

The retrieving device retrieves the color information of the colorbarcode by decrypting a data obtained from the scanned color informationportion. As the retrieving device, in the case that the color barcodereproducing apparatus is the color copying machine or the color multifunction printer, an IC or a CPU of the color copying machine or thecolor multi function printer may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software. As the retrieving device, in the case thatthe color barcode reproducing apparatus is a system including acomputer, an image scanner and a color printer apart, an IC or a CPU ofthe computer or the image scanner may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software

The relating device relates each color of the color tiles of the dataportion scanned by the scanning device to each color of the colorinformation retrieved by the retrieving device. As the relating device,in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is the colorcopying machine or the color multi function printer, an IC or a CPU ofthe color copying machine or the color multi function printer may becomprised, if necessary in combination with a software. As the relatingdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is asystem including a computer, an image scanner and a color printer apart,an IC or a CPU of the computer or the image scanner may be comprised, ifnecessary in combination with a software.

The printing device prints the color barcode including the colorinformation portion and the data portion with the color according to theresult of the retrieving device and the relating device. As the printingdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer, a printingportion of the color copying machine or the multi function color printermay be comprised. As the printing device, in the case that the colorbarcode reproducing apparatus is a system including a computer, an imagescanner and a color printer apart, the color printer may be comprised.

The color barcode reproducing apparatus may comprise a color barcodedata storing device which stores a data of the color barcode scanned bythe scanning device and a data obtained from the scanned colorinformation portion by retrieving step of the retrieving device and adata obtained from a result of the relating step by the relating device.As the color barcode data storing device, in the case that the colorbarcode reproducing apparatus is the color copying machine or the colormulti function printer, a memory of the color copying machine or themulti function color printer may be comprised. As the color barcode datastoring device, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatusis a system including a computer, an image scanner and a color printerapart, a memory of the computer or the color printer, a hard disk of thecomputer, or a external and/or a removable information storing device,such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing device for them of thecomputer may be comprised.

Using the color barcode reproducing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is reproduced as follows.

A method for reproducing a color barcode comprises a color informationportion scanning step which scans the color information portion of thecolor barcode, a retrieving step which retrieves the color informationby decrypting the scanned color information portion, a data portionscanning step which scans the data portion, a relating step whichrelates each color of the color tiles of the scanned data portion toeach color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving step,and a printing step which prints the color barcode including the colorinformation portion and the data portion with the color according to theresult of the relating step.

In the following, the detailed description of one of embodiments of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, a color multifunction printer including copying function 10is shown as the color barcode reproducing apparatus for the abovemethod.

At first, a paper, a sheet, a document or a book etc. affixing a colorbarcode 1 comprising a color information portion 2 and a data portion 3including several color tiles 31 is scanned by the scanning portion 12,which is the scanning device, of the color multifunction printer 10 andthe color barcode is changed into a digital data. Alternatively, to geta digital data of the color barcode, some digital data, such as a datarecorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard disk or a digital data sent via anetwork, may be read by a computer (not disclosed in FIG. 3) connectedwith the color multifunction printer 10 and sent from the computer tothe multifunction printer 10. As stated in the above, usually the colorinformation portion scanning step and the data portion scanning step isdone simultaneously.

Next, in the retrieving step, a data of the color barcode, especially adata of the color information portion and the data portion, is extractedfrom the scanned, reproduced or sent digital data. And the data of thecolor information portion is decrypted by a CPU 11 of the colormultifunction printer 10 as the retrieving device in order to obtain acolor information. To decrypt, DES or RC4 etc. decryption method may beused. By this step, the information about what Pantone™ colors are usedfor the color tiles 31 of the data portion 3 can be retrieved. Theretrieved color information may be stored in a memory 15 as the colorbarcode data storing device.

Then, in the relating step, each color of the color tiles 31 of thescanned data portion 3 is related by CPU 11 as the relating device toeach color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving step. Atfirst, data portion is extracted from the data of the scanned documentand each color used in color tiles 31 is retrieved and analyzed. Then,each color of the color tiles 31 is related by CPU 11 to the same colorof Pantone™ color represented in the color information portion. Forexample, if color of one color tile is blue (Pantone™ 285C) and Pantone™285C is included in the color information of the color informationportion, the blue of color tile is related to Pantone™ 285 C of thecolor information. If there is no same color of certain color tile inthe color of the color information, among several Pantone™ colorsrepresented in the color information portion, the closest Pantone™ colorof the color information is related to the color of the color tiles. Forexample, if color of one color tile is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), and red(Pantone™ 485 C), orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™ 285 C), green(Pantone™ 340 C), yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) and pink (Pantone™ 672 C) areincluded in the color information of the color information portion, theblue (Pantone™ 2925C) of color tile is related to Pantone™ 285 C of thecolor information because Pantone™ 285C is the closest color. When allcolors of color tiles 31 are related to colors of the color informationrepresented by the color information portion, the relating step iscompleted. In other words, all colors of color tiles are regarded asPantone™ colors represented by the color information portion. However,if one or some colors of the color tiles 31 are too different with thecolor of the color information, the relating step cannot be completed.In such case, a LCD display 14 of the color multifunction printer 10displays warning message such as “this color barcode cannot bereproduced”.

After relating step, according to the result of the relating step, thePantone™ colors used for printing the color barcode are decided. Then,according to the decided colors, the color barcode 1 including the colorinformation portion 2 and the data portion 3 is printed on the paper bya printing portion 13, which is the printing device, of the colormultifunction printer 10 so as that the color of the color tiles 31 ofthe printed data portion 3 on the paper accords with the Pantone™ colorrepresented by the color information portion 2 of the color barcode 1.For example, if color of one color tile of printed original colorbarcode is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), and red (Pantone 485 C), orange(Pantone 715 C), blue (Pantone™ 285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow(Pantone™ 102 C) and pink (Pantone™ 672 C) are included in the colorinformation of the color information portion, Pantone™ 285 C is printedin the color tile corresponding to the color tile of which color is blue(Pantone™ 2925C) in the printed original color barcode.

By doing such, integrity and authenticity of the color barcode can bemaintained even if the color barcode is copied or reprinted.

The color barcode may be affixed not only to the paper, but also to thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Example 4

The color barcode produced or reproduced by the way shown in theexamples 1, 2 and 3 is read in order to obtain a data from the colorbarcode. In the following, the example of an apparatus and a method forreading the color barcode will be explained.

A color barcode reading apparatus comprises a scanning device, aretrieving device and a relating device.

As such color barcode reading apparatus, a color barcode reader, a colorcopying machine or a color multi function printer including copyingfunction may be used. In such embodiment, all of the scanning device,the retrieving device and the relating device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode reading apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer and an image scannerwhich are apart and are connected with each other, may be used.

Next, each element of the color barcode reading apparatus is explainedas follows.

Regarding the scanning device, it is similar to that of the Example 3except that the scanning device may include a scanning portion of thecolor barcode reader.

The retrieving device retrieves the color information of the colorbarcode by decrypting a data obtained from the scanned color informationportion. As the retrieving device, in the case that the color barcodereading apparatus is the color barcode reader, the color copying machineor the color multi function printer, an IC or a CPU of the color barcodereader, the color copying machine or the color multi function printermay be comprised, if necessary in combination with a software. As theretrieving device, in the case that the color barcode reading apparatusis a system including a computer and an image scanner, an IC or a CPU ofthe computer or the image scanner may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software.

Further, the retrieving device retrieves the data by decrypting thescanned data portion according to the results of the relating device andthe color information retrieved by the retrieving device. Regarding therelating device, it is explained below.

Regarding the relating device, it is similar to that of the Example 3except that the relating device may include an IC or a CPU of the colorbarcode reader.

The color barcode reproducing apparatus may comprise a color barcodedata storing device. Regarding the color barcode data storing device, itis similar to that of the Example 3 except that the color barcode datastoring device may store the data obtained from the scanned data portionby retrieving step of the retrieving device.

Using the color barcode reading apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is read as follows.

A method for reading a color barcode comprises a color informationportion scanning step which scans the color information portion of thecolor barcode, a retrieving step which retrieves the color informationby decrypting the scanned color information portion, a data portionscanning step which scans the data portion, a relating step whichrelates each color of the color tiles of the scanned data portion toeach color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving step,and a retrieving step which retrieves the data by decrypting the scanneddata portion according to the result of the relating step and the colorinformation retrieved.

In the following, the detailed description of one of embodiments of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, a color barcode reader including 20 is shown as the colorbarcode reading apparatus for the above method.

At first, the color barcode affixed on a paper, a sheet, a document or abook etc. is scanned by the scanning portion 22, which is the scanningdevice, of the color barcode reader 10 and the color barcode is changedinto a digital data. Alternatively, to get a digital data of the colorbarcode, some digital data, such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROMor a hard disk or a digital data sent via a network, may be read by acomputer (not disclosed in FIG. 4) connected with the color barcodereader 20 and sent from the computer to the color barcode reader 20. Asstated in the above, usually the color information portion scanning stepand the data portion scanning step is done simultaneously.

Next, in the retrieving step, the data of the color information portionis decrypted by a CPU 21 of the color barcode reader 20 as theretrieving device in order to obtain a color information. To decrypt,DES or RC4 etc. decryption method may be used. By this step, theinformation about what Pantone™ colors are used for the color tiles 31of the data portion 3 can be retrieved. The retrieved color informationmay be stored in a memory 24 as the color barcode data storing device.

Then, in the relating step, each color of the color tiles 31 of thescanned data portion 3 is related by CPU 21 as the relating device toeach color of the color information retrieved by the retrieving step. Atfirst, each color used in color tiles 31 is retrieved and analyzed.Then, each color of the color tiles 31 is related by CPU 21 to the samecolor of Pantone™ color represented in the color information portion.For example, if color of one color tile is blue (Pantone™ 285C) andPantone 285C™ is included in the color information of the colorinformation portion, the blue of color tile is related to Pantone™ 285 Cof the color information. If there is no same color of certain colortile in the color of the color information, among several Pantone™colors represented in the color information portion, the closestPantone™ color of the color information is related to the color of thecolor tiles. For example, if color of one color tile is blue (Pantone2925C), and red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange (Pantone™ 715 C), blue(Pantone™ 285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow (Pantone™ 102 C) andpink (Pantone™ 672 C) are included in the color information of the colorinformation portion, the blue (Pantone™ 2925C) of color tile is relatedto Pantone™ 285 C of the color information because Pantone™ 285C is theclosest color. When all colors of color tiles 31 are related to colorsof the color information represented by the color information portion,the relating step is completed. In other words, all colors of colortiles are regarded as Pantone™ colors represented by the colorinformation portion. However, if one or some colors of the color tiles31 are too different with the color of the color information, therelating step cannot be completed. In such case, a LCD display 23 of thecolor barcode reader 20 displays warning message such as “this colorbarcode cannot be read”.

Then, the data of the data portion is retrieved by decrypting thescanned data portion according to the result of the relating step andthe color information retrieved by CPU 21 as the retrieving device inorder to obtain data recorded in the data portion. In this retrievingstep, the colors of the data portion of printed color barcode areregarded as the Pantone™ colors represented by the color informationportion according to the result of the relating step. To decrypt, DES orRC4 etc. decryption method may be used. The retrieved data may be storedin a memory 24 as the color barcode data storing device.

For example, if color of one color tile of printed original colorbarcode is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), and red (Pantone™ 485 C), orange(Pantone™ 715 C), blue (Pantone™ 285 C), green (Pantone™ 340 C), yellow(Pantone™ 102 C) and pink (Pantone™ 672 C) are included in the colorinformation of the color information portion, the blue (Pantone™ 2925C)of the printed color tile is regarded as Pantone™ 285 C and read asPantone™ 285C according to the result of the relating step.

By doing such, integrity and authenticity of the color barcode can bemaintained even if the color barcode deteriorates or is copied orreprinted.

On the other hand, the color barcode produced or reproduced by the wayof the above example may be read by the method including only scanningstep and retrieving step for the data portion without the retrievingstep for the color information portion and the relating portion.

Disclosed embodiments can be varied by a skilled person withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A computer-implemented method for reproducing a first color barcode,comprising: scanning a first color information portion, which is a partof the first color barcode, wherein the first color information portionincludes an encoding of at least one color value, wherein each of the atleast one color values corresponds to at least one color used in atleast one of a plurality of first color tiles present in a first dataportion of the first color barcode, retrieving the at least one colorvalue by decoding the scanned first color information portion, scanningthe first data portion, which is a part of the first color barcode andincludes the plurality of first color tiles, wherein the plurality offirst color tiles encode data associated with the first color barcode,correlating the at least one retrieved color value with at least onecolor associated with the plurality of first color tiles in the firstdata portion, and printing a second color barcode including a secondcolor information portion, wherein the second color information portionincludes an encoding of the at least one retrieved color value, and asecond data portion including at least one second color tile, whereinthe color of the at least one second color tile corresponds to the colorassociated with the retrieved color value.
 2. The method for reproducingcolor barcode of claim 1, wherein the color information includes adefinition of the color in at least one of a color sample system and acolor space.
 3. A color barcode reproducing apparatus, comprising: ascanning device, which scans: a first color information portion, whichis a part of a first color barcode, wherein the first color informationportion includes an encoding of at least one color value, wherein eachof the at least one color values corresponds to at least one color usedin at least one of a plurality of first color tiles present in a firstdata portion of the first color barcode, and the first data portion,which is a part of the first color barcode, wherein the first dataportion includes a plurality of first color tiles encode data associatedwith the first color barcode; a retrieving device, which retrieves theat least one color value by decoding the scanned first color informationportion, a correlating device, which correlates the at least oneretrieved color value with at least one color associated with at leastone of the plurality of first color tiles of the first data portion, anda printing device, which prints a second color barcode including asecond color information portion, wherein the second color informationportion includes an encoding of the at least one retrieved color value,and a second data portion including at least one second color tile,wherein the color of the at least one second color tile corresponds tothe color associated with retrieved color value.
 4. The color barcodeproducing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the color information includes adefinition of the color in at least one of a color sample system and acolor space.